Combination package

ABSTRACT

A combination package including a product pouch surrounded by a protective paperboard enclosure. The enclosure including means on the body portion for shaping the pouch opening, means along side edges for gripping the package and means on the body portion for bulging the enclosure walls outwardly to form a stable upright support stand.

United States Patent Fettinger et al.

[451 Aug. 15, 1972 [54] COMBINATION PACKAGE [72] Inventors: John G. Fettinger, Norwich, Conn.;

Guelfo A. Manizza, Blauvelt, NY.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, NY.

22 Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 211 App1.No.: 117,273

52 US. Cl. .....'......229/14 B, 229/51 Tc, 229/51 D, 206/56 AA 51 Int. Cl ..B65d 5/40, B65d 5/54 [58] Field of Search ..229/14 B, 14 BA, 14 BW, 51 TC, 229/51 D, 51 RT, 55, 56; 206/56 AA [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,144,129 8/1964 Weisberg ..229/5l D X 3,189,253 6/1965 Mojommier ..229/55 X- 3,305,159 2/1967 Becker et a1. ..229/51 TS X 3,326,364 6/1967 Waldrop et al .229/14 B x 3,339,820 9/1967 Krzyzanowski ..229/14 B X 3,392,901 7/1968 Krzyzanowski ..229/14 B 3,482,758 12/1969 Pierre et al ..229/14 B 3,521,807 7/1970 Weisberg ..229/1 4 B- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 574,332 3/1958 Italy ..229/5l D Primary ExaminerDavis T. Moorhead Att0rney-Fred P. Kostka, Joseph E. Kerwin and William A. Dittmann [571 ABSTRACT A combination package including a product pouch surrounded by a protective paperboard enclosure. The enclosure including means on the body portion for shaping the pouch opening, means along side edges for gripping the package and means on the body portion for bulging the enclosure walls outwardly to form a stable upright support stand.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUB 15 I972 SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTORS JOHN G. FETT/NGER GUELFO A. MAN/ZZA BY 4 X/ZM PATENTEDAUG 15 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 2 uWE/v TORS JOHN G. FETT/NGER GUEL F0 A. MA N/ZZA ATT'X COMBINATION PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to product containers and in particular to an improved individual serving package.

2. The Prior Art Many types of food, including particularly liquids 0 such as alcoholic beverages, are packaged in individual serving containers such as bottles. These individual serving bottles are fragile and time-consuming to open. In addition, often times, the bottle packaging is bulky and heavy thus increasing the costs of shipping and SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By the present invention, it is proposed to provide an economical, new and improved product package and individual serving container. In particular, what is provided is a combination pouch-carton including a generally flat flexible product pouch surrounded. by a paperboard protective enclosure. The enclosure comprises a generally rectangular parallelopipedon shaped body member with main front and back panels or walls and having upward flap extensions along horizontal severance lines. In addition, the main panels have inwardly curved recesses along lateral edges near the top for gripping the pouch-carton. The opening or spout forming end of the product pouch is secured to the inside surfaces of the upper portions of the main panels and to the flap extensions. The main panels are also provided with diverging pairs of perforation lines and central weakening lines for shaping the spout forming end. The central weakening lines also function to permit the main panels to bulge outwardly to form a stable upright pouch support stand.

To open the pouch, the pouch-carton is held in an upright position and the flap extensions'torn along the severance lines. Subsequent to the tearing operation, the carton is gripped at the curved recesses and squeezed to bulge the main panels and the connected opening end of the pouch outwardly to form a pouring spout. The lower portions of the main panels are bulged outwardly to form the support stand.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a product pouch and protective enclosure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pouch-carton wherein the top of the carton body member serves as a tearing edge for the projecting spout forming end.

Another object of this invention is to provide. a pouch-carton wherein the front and rear carton panels provide a large copy area for graphics.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pouch-carton wherein the upper portions of the main carton panels are welded to the upper side panels of the pouch with adhesive. 7

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pouch-carton wherein the front and back carton panels are scored to facilitate shaping of a pouring spout.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pouch-carton that is dimensioned to fit the hand. of a consumer.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a generally rectangular parallelopipedon shaped construction which forms a dimensionally stable unit.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a generally rectangular parallelopipedon shaped unit to insure good packing efficiencies.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a generally rectangular parallelopipedon shaped pouchcarton to insure stability when placed on a tray.

A final object of this invention is to provide a pouchcarton wherein the carton is adaptable to form an upright stand to support the pouch after the pouch seal has been broken.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective viewof pouch-carton containing a product in the upright position before opening of the pouch.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the pouch-carton along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a carton blank from which the carton shown in FIG. 1 is constructed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pouch-carton in an upright position illustrating the manner of removing the tear-off portion.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of. the pouch-carton being pinched open to form a pouring spout.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pouch-carton during the pouring operation.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pouch-carton in the stand-up position after the bottom wall has been removed and the main carton walls bulged outwardly.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A novel pouch-carton l0 constructed in accordance with this invention is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2. The pouch-carton 10 comprises a generally flat tubular product pouch or bag 12 which is surrounded or enclosed by a generally flat paperboard protective enclosure or carton 14. The pouch 12 is of conventional design and construction being composed of lightweight non-self-supporting flexible material which is impervious to fluids. Briefly, the pouch may consist of two coextensive rectangular side sheets or side panels l5, 15 disposed in relatively closely spaced face-to-face relation, the side sheets being suitably joined together along corresponding margins and having at least the top margin thereof defining an opening end portion or section. The top margin being joined together by a seal 16 to form the generally flat closed product pouch.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the carton or container 14 includes a generally rectangular parallelopipedon shaped body member 25, a removable end or bottom wall 26 and a top or upward tear-off portion 27. The body member 25 includes main front and back panels or walls 20, 21 connected at lower side edges 16 to secondary side panels or walls 30, 31.

The carton 14 may best be described in detail by viewing the carton blank 13 as illustrated in FIG. 3. As can be seen, the carton blank 13 comprises two similar multi-paneled rectangular sheets 23, 24 interconnected by intermediate side panel 30 along inward side edges 16 and having opposite attachment flaps 28, 29 projecting outwardly at side edges 16. Attachment flaps 28, 29 overlap in the erected carton to form side wall 31. Each sheet 23, 24 is defined along side or lateral edges by interrupted longitudinal lines 16. Each sheet 23, 24 is defined at upper ends by transverse lines 50, 50, severance lines 40, 40, and at lower ends by separation lines 35, 35 and transverse lines 51, 51. Sheets 23, 24 include lower folding extension panels 33, 34, main rectangular body panels 20, 21 and upper extension panels or flaps 38, 39. Lower extension panels 33, 34 are separated from panels 20, 21 by transverse separation or tear lines 35, 35. Any desired configuration can be used for these tear lines in order to provide a zone along which the bottom wall 26 can be torn. Spaced slits, perforations, spaced hook-shaped slits or any other form of weakened areas are suitable tear line configurations. In the illustrated form, each separation line 35 is shown as comprising a series of hook-shaped slits cut into the sheets 23, 24. In each instance, the hooks or slits extend through the sheets 23, 24. A starting notch 36 is provided at the lower end of side panel 30 to permit entrance of a finger tip between bottom wall 26 and side panel 30 in the erected condition to initiate tearing of the overlapped extension panels 33, 34.

Vertical longitudinal weakening or fold lines 37 are provided in panels 20, 21 to function as a shaping means to facilitate shaping of a pouring spout and also to permit the forming of a stable support stand. weakening lines 37 extend from the tops of panels 20, 21 at approximately the mid-portion of severance lines 40, 40 down to separation lines 35, 35. The shaping means comprise the upper portions of weakening lines 37; that is, the portions of weakening lines 37 which are adjacent severance lines 40, 40. The upper extension flaps 38, 39 are attached to panels 20, 21 along horizontal severance lines 40, 40. Severance lines 40, 40 comprise a series of discrete collinear cut lines through the sheets 29, 31. Severance lines 40, 40 terminate'short of longitudinal edges 16in vee-shaped tearing notches 49.

In each body panel 20, 21, gripping means are provided for squeezing body member 25 to form the pouring spout. The gripping means comprise opposed pairs of curved recesses 41 disposed downwardly from severance lines 40, 40 and along upper side edges 16. As shown, the gripping means are defined by inwardly projecting arcuate line portions 42 having bisectors which are generally parallel to the severance lines 40, 40.

Separate shaping means for forming the spout are also provided on body panels 20, 21. This shaping means comprise spaced pairs of diverging perforation lines or intermittent score lines 43 in the direction away from severance lines 40, 40. The perforation lines 43 extend between spaced points 60, 60 on severance lines 40, 40 and the arcuate line portions 42 to define generally trapezoidal shaped corner holding portions 44 on the main body walls 20,21.

As noted from FIGS. 1 and 2, in the erected condition lower extension panels 33, 34 are overlaped and secured together to form the removable bottom wall 26 normal to panels 20, 21 and which is defined by the separation lines 35, 35. Also, side panel 28 overlaps and is adhered to side panel 32 to form the side wall 31.

As can be seen best from FIG. 2, the pouch I2 is inserted into the carton with the pouch opening end portion being adjacent and between the flap extensions 38, 39. The flap extensions 38, 39 are then brought together and adhered to the pouch seal area 16 along a thin line of adhesive 63 form the tear off extension 27. The upper portions of panels 20, 21 are also secured to the pouch side sheets along a thin layer of adhesive 64 adjacent severance lines 40, 40 and extending the width of the carton panels 20, 21 intermediate side edges 16. 9

Looking to FIGS. 4 7, the sequence of operations for opening the pouch-carton will now be explained. Since in most instances the pouchcarton will be used to package an individual portion of a liquid such as liquor, the pouch-carton should he held in the upright position when removing the tear-off portion 27. The tear-off portion 27 is grasped by the hand and the severance lines 40, 40 torn from left-to-right starting at the left vee notch 49. The extension 27 is ripped entirely off. In so doing, the severance lines 40, 40 serve as a horizontal tearing edge to sever the pouch below the pouch seal area 16 to permit egress of the packaged fluid. It is advantageous that this tearing line be substantially horizontal to minimize spilling and to permit the maximum amount of product to be packaged therein.

As can best be seen in FIG. 5, the pouch-carton is pinched open to form a pouring spout 70. The opened carton 14 is grasped or gripped at the curved recesses 41 with the thumb along one side of the carton and the middle and index fingers along the other side. Then, an inward traverse pressure is exerted on the panels 20, 21 which causes panels 20, 21 to bulge outwardly along the weakening lines 37 and the perforation lines 43 to form a spout having a rhombusshaped cross section. It is to be noted that the trapezoidal corner holding portions 44 do not bulge outwardly. Since the upper portions of the pouch are secured to the inside surfaces of the panels 20, 21, when these panels bulge outwardly, the pouch side sheets move outwardly also, thus imparting the same rhombus-shaped cross section to the top of the pouch bag.

As shown in FIG. 6, to pour the contents out of the pouch, the carton is grasped and tilted. In this manner, the tops of the bulged body panels function as a spout or funnel to permit a controlled amount of fluid to spill over the severed edges 40, 40.

Though the unopened pouch-carton possesses a degree of vertical stability, the relatively tall and narrow profile will not permit the partially filed pouch-carton to remain upright on a tray or table when exposed to mild disturbances or gy rations. To provide for vertical stability, stand forming means are provided on the carton 14. The stand forming means comprise the lower portions of weakening lines 37; that is, the portions of weakening lines 37 which extend downwardly to bottom wall 26 at the separation lines 35, 35. As can best be seen in FIG. 7, by applying a transverse inward squeeze to the side walls 30, 31, the main panels 20, 21 bulge outwardly along weakening lines 37 to form a stable support stand having a generally rhombohedral shaped configuration. Prior to squeezing side walls 30, 31, bottom wall 26 is removed along lines of separation 35, 35 by grasping the bottom wall 26 near the recess 36 and pulling outwardly on the bottom wall.

After all of the contents of the pouch have been consumed, the, product pouch and carton can be collapsed to be easily disposed of.

We claim:

1. A combination pouch-carton which comprises:

a. a generally flat tubular pouch;

b. a generally flat folded paperboard enclosure about said pouch;

c. said enclosure including opposed main body walls and a removable end wall normal to said main' body walls and attached at least to said main body walls at one end thereof;

(1. said enclosure including a tear-off portion, said tear-off portion comprising detachable extension panels at an opposite end of said enclosure, said panels outwardly extending from said main body walls along severance lines;

e. opposite sides of said pouch being secured to inner surfaces of said main body walls at least at said opposite end;

f. said pouch having an opening end portion projecting outwardly beyond said main body walls and between said panels, said opening end portion being secured to inside surfaces of said panels;

2. The pouch-carton as recited in claim 1 including shaping means on said enclosure for shaping said pouch subsequent to removal of said tear-off portion.

3. The pouch-carton as recited in claim 2 wherein said shaping means comprise spaced diverging perforation lines and central weakening lines on said main body walls, said perforation lines diverging in a direction away from said severance lines and extending from said severance lines to side edges of said main body walls, said perforation lines and portions of said severance lines defining corner holding portions on said main body walls, said weakening lines extending from said severance lines at least part way toward said end wall. v

4. The pouch-carton as recited in claim 1- including gripping means on said enclosure at least at said opposite end for squeezing said pouch open.

5. The pouch-carton as recited inclaim 4 wherein said gripping means comprises curved recesses on said main body walls spaced from said severance lines, said gripping means being defined by inwardly projecting arcuate portions of side edges of said main body walls.

6. The pouch-carton as recited in claim 1 including support stand forming means on said enclosure at least at said one end.

7. The pouch-carton as recited in claim 6 wherein said support stand forming means comprise central weakening lines on said main body walls, said weakening lines extending from said end wall at least part way toward said severance lines.

8. A self-supporting container and stand assembly which comprises:

a. a non-self-supporting flexible product bag having relatively closely spaced side body panels forming a flat bag construction and having a spout forming section at the top of the bag from which the contents of the bag may be poured;

b. a rectangular parallelopipedon shaped container supporting said bag and formable into an upright stable stand, said container including relatively closely spaced front and back walls coextensive with said body panels and spaced side walls at least at the lower end thereof, said container including a bottom wall normal to said front and back and side walls and connected at least to said front and back walls along parallel separation lines to form a removable tear strip, said container including a tearoff portion at the upper end'thercof, said tearoff portion comprising detachable extension panels upwardly extending from said front and back walls along horizontal severance lines, said container including means at the upper end thereof securely engaging said spout forming section; I

.c. at least one weakening line centrally of said front and back walls and extending downwardly from said container top to said bottom wall whereby said front and back walls bulge outwardly at said weakening line to form a rhombohedral shaped container structure when said. side walls are squeezed inwardly subsequent to removal of said tear-off portion and said bottom wall.

9. The self-supporting container and stand assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said means comprises a thin strip of adhesive on inside surfaces of said front and back walls and said extension panels.

10. A carton for a combination pouch-carton package which comprises:

a. a body member for holding an upright pouch having a top spout forming section, said body member including opposed closely spaced front and back rectangular panels and opposed spaced side panels at least at the lower end thereof, said front and back panels attachable to said pouch at least adjacent the top thereof, said body member being formable into a stable support stand;

b. a plurality of folding end flaps, said end flaps being formed as lower extensions of said front and back panels along horizontal separation lines said end flaps being folded upward and inward about said lines of separation and overlapped to form a removable'bottom wall defined by said separation lines;

e. a tear-off portion, said tear-off portion being formed as upper extensions of said front and back panels along I substantially horizontal severance lines and removable along said severance lines, said tear-off portion being engageable with said pouch at said top thereof;

(1. means for gripping said carton;

e. means for shaping said spout forming section;

f. means for forming said stand.

11. The carton of claim 10 wherein said gripping means comprises recesses on said front and back panels spaced from said severance lines, said recesses disposed in opposed pairs at least at the upper portions of said front and back panels, said recesses defined by inwardly projecting arcuate portions of said edges of said front and back panels and having bisectors generally parallel to said severance lines.

12. The carton of claim 11 wherein said shaping means comprises spaced diverging perforation lines on said front and back panels in a direction away from said severance lines and weakening lines centrally of said front and back panels and extending at least partially from said severance lines to said bottom'wall, said perforation lines extending from said severance lines to ing means comprises weakening lines centrally of said front and back panels and extending from said severance lines to said bottom wall whereby said panels bulge outwardly along said weakening line when said bottom wall is removed and said side panels squeezed inwardly. 

1. A combination pouch-carton which comprises: a. a generally flat tubular pouch; b. a generally flat folded paperboard enclosure about said pouch; c. said enclosure including opposed main body walls and a removable end wall normal to said main body walls and attached at least to said main body walls at one end thereof; d. said enclosure including a tear-off portion, said tear-off portion comprising detachable extension panels at an opposite end of said enclosure, said panels outwardly extending from said main body walls along severance lines; e. opposite sides of said pouch being secured to inner surfaces of said main body walls at least at said opposite end; f. said pouch having an opening end portion projecting outwardly beyond said main body walls and between said panels, said opening end portion being secured to inside surfaces of said panels;
 2. The pouch-carton as recited in claim 1 including shaping means on said enclosure for shaping said pouch subsequent to removal of said tear-off portion.
 3. The pouch-carton as recited in claim 2 wherein said shaping means comprise spaced diverging perforation lines and central weakening lines on said main body walls, said perforation lines diverging in a direction away from said severance lines and extending from said severance lines to side edges of said main body walls, said perforation lines and portions of said severance lines defining corner holding portions on said main body walls, said weakening lines extending from said severance lines at least part way toward said end wall.
 4. The pouch-carton As recited in claim 1 including gripping means on said enclosure at least at said opposite end for squeezing said pouch open.
 5. The pouch-carton as recited in claim 4 wherein said gripping means comprises curved recesses on said main body walls spaced from said severance lines, said gripping means being defined by inwardly projecting arcuate portions of side edges of said main body walls.
 6. The pouch-carton as recited in claim 1 including support stand forming means on said enclosure at least at said one end.
 7. The pouch-carton as recited in claim 6 wherein said support stand forming means comprise central weakening lines on said main body walls, said weakening lines extending from said end wall at least part way toward said severance lines.
 8. A self-supporting container and stand assembly which comprises: a. a non-self-supporting flexible product bag having relatively closely spaced side body panels forming a flat bag construction and having a spout forming section at the top of the bag from which the contents of the bag may be poured; b. a rectangular parallelopipedon shaped container supporting said bag and formable into an upright stable stand, said container including relatively closely spaced front and back walls coextensive with said body panels and spaced side walls at least at the lower end thereof, said container including a bottom wall normal to said front and back and side walls and connected at least to said front and back walls along parallel separation lines to form a removable tear strip, said container including a tear-off portion at the upper end thereof, said tear-off portion comprising detachable extension panels upwardly extending from said front and back walls along horizontal severance lines, said container including means at the upper end thereof securely engaging said spout forming section; c. at least one weakening line centrally of said front and back walls and extending downwardly from said container top to said bottom wall whereby said front and back walls bulge outwardly at said weakening line to form a rhombohedral shaped container structure when said side walls are squeezed inwardly subsequent to removal of said tear-off portion and said bottom wall.
 9. The self-supporting container and stand assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said means comprises a thin strip of adhesive on inside surfaces of said front and back walls and said extension panels.
 10. A carton for a combination pouch-carton package which comprises: a. a body member for holding an upright pouch having a top spout forming section, said body member including opposed closely spaced front and back rectangular panels and opposed spaced side panels at least at the lower end thereof, said front and back panels attachable to said pouch at least adjacent the top thereof, said body member being formable into a stable support stand; b. a plurality of folding end flaps, said end flaps being formed as lower extensions of said front and back panels along horizontal separation lines said end flaps being folded upward and inward about said lines of separation and overlapped to form a removable bottom wall defined by said separation lines; c. a tear-off portion, said tear-off portion being formed as upper extensions of said front and back panels along substantially horizontal severance lines and removable along said severance lines, said tear-off portion being engageable with said pouch at said top thereof; d. means for gripping said carton; e. means for shaping said spout forming section; f. means for forming said stand.
 11. The carton of claim 10 wherein said gripping means comprises recesses on said front and back panels spaced from said severance lines, said recesses disposed in opposed pairs at least at the upper portions of said front and back panels, said recesses defined by inwardly projecting arcuate portions of said edges of said front and back panels and having bisectors generally parallel to said severance lines.
 12. The carton of claim 11 wherein said shaping means comprises spaced diverging perforation lines on said front and back panels in a direction away from said severance lines and weakening lines centrally of said front and back panels and extending at least partially from said severance lines to said bottom wall, said perforation lines extending from said severance lines to said curved recesses, said perforation lines and portions of said severance lines defining corner holding portions in said panels whereby said panels and pouch bulge outwardly along said perforation and weakening lines when said tear-off portion is removed and said front and back panels squeezed inwardly at said recesses.
 13. The carton of claim 12 wherein said stand forming means comprises weakening lines centrally of said front and back panels and extending from said severance lines to said bottom wall whereby said panels bulge outwardly along said weakening line when said bottom wall is removed and said side panels squeezed inwardly. 